How to Fish Sells 1 Million Copies in 2 Days, Peak Steam Players Top 268,000
The game's player cap grew from 4 to 8 in patch 1.0.4 just two days after launch, and its concurrent player count rose from about 20,000 at release to 268,101, showing the chaotic gun-fishing concept is still drawing players in.
Key Facts
- How to Fish sold over 1 million copies within 2 days of its August 20, 2026 Steam release, according to developer Dazed Games.
- Peak concurrent players reached 268,101 on SteamDB over the weekend.
- Patch 1.0.4 on August 22 expanded the player limit from 4 to 8 players.
- The game is priced at 545 yen with a 38 percent discount until August 28.
- Steam reviews are Very Positive, with 94 percent of about 10,000 reviews positive.
Reporting from 5 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton, Denfaminicogamer, GameBusiness.jp, and 1 more.
The physics-based fishing simulator How to Fish, developed and published by Dazed Games, sold over 1 million copies within two days of its August 20 release on Steam. The developer announced the milestone on August 23. The game casts players as a fisherman who drifts onto a small island and must master fishing to earn money and return home. It supports online co-op for up to 8 players after a patch, and its core loop involves catching fish, killing them with guns, knives, or bare hands, and selling them to buy better equipment. Trick shots, such as shooting a fish thrown into the air with a sniper rifle, earn bonus rewards, and players can gamble with roulette for a chance at a big payout. Boss fights unlock access to more dangerous islands. According to SteamDB, the game peaked at 268,101 concurrent players over the weekend. Steam reviews sit at Very Positive, with 94 percent of about 10,000 reviews positive. A 38 percent discount sale to 545 yen runs until August 28.
How to Fish launched on August 20 with a premise that mixes fishing with first-person shooting. Players start with no tools or weapons, catch fish, kill them with handguns, rifles, or shotguns, and sell them for money. Trick shots, like shooting a fish thrown into the air, give extra rewards, and roulette gambling offers a chance at a big payout. The game also includes boss fights that unlock access to islands with more dangerous creatures.
The player limit was expanded from 4 to 8 in patch 1.0.4 on August 22, which also adjusted creature balance and fixed a black screen issue when joining a lobby. Steam reviews have shifted from Overwhelmingly Positive to Very Positive as the review count grew. The game is available on PC via Steam for 880 yen, with a 38 percent discount to 545 yen until August 28.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 5 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net なんでもありな4人協力釣りゲーム「How to Fish」，リリースから2日で100万本のセールスを達成
- Automaton 最大8人協力・Steam物理演算釣りシム『How to Fish』発売2日で「売上100万本」達成。銃もギャンブルも飛び出す、“なんでもあり”ドタバタ漁師生活
- Denfaminicogamer 【人気爆発】釣った獲物を“銃“で撃つカオスな釣りゲーム『How to Fish』売上本数「100万本」を突破！リリースからわずか2日で達成
- GameBusiness.jp 最大8人の釣りゲーかと思ったらボスと戦うFPSでもあるカオスな『How to Fish』2日で100万本突破！最大同接も約27万人
- Game Spark 最大8人の釣りゲーかと思ったらボスと戦うFPSでもあるカオスな『How to Fish』2日で100万本突破！最大同接も約27万人